BUILDING work will start on Didcot's long-overdue arts centre project next month after construction contracts were signed this week.

South Oxfordshire District Council said the £7.3m centre should be completed by Spring 2008.

The complex - being built by Leadbitter Construction - will include a 290-seat auditorium, four multi-purpose arts education spaces, a visual arts exhibition space and a caf/bar. A new five-screen cinema will open near the Station Road site in May 2007.

Nigel Moor, the district council's cabinet member for leisure, arts and recreation, said: "Along with the cinema, the arts centre will provide a much needed heart to the town.

"Securing this hasn't been easy but the hard work has finally paid off."

The arts centre project has been plagued by problems since its conception in 2000 by the district council's Labour/Liberal Democrat ruling group.

The Tories redesigned the plans in 2003 - insisting they would not spend more than the original £6.4m budget.

Negotiations with Leadbitter collapsed in March but the deal was saved when the Tories stumped up an extra £1m to cover the cost of building inflation.